The Martial Unity

The resolution was not what Rui had expected, but he appreciated it nonetheless. While he went off to finalize the details of the argument and sign the contract, Amare comforted the Blood Goddess.

“What is your name?”

The Blood Goddess’ eyes widened at the simple question. “I…”

Her expression darkened. “I don’t remember.”

Amare’s expression grew pained at her words.

“I remember having one a long time ago, when I was child, but I have been called Blood Goddess for as long as I can remember.”

“That’s… horrible.”

The Blood Goddess remained silent.

She was lost.

As though she still couldn’t believe what was happening.

She truly found it impossible to digest that she was being set free. It didn’t parse emotionally that this was happening. Even now, she half-expected that the Blood Lord would return to her and deny all that he had previously said.

Even now, she found it difficult to believe that she was actually going to leave this hell hole of a cult.

“Where are your clothes?” Amare frowned. “Surely they have a pair lying around here for when you wake up.”

The Blood Goddess shook her head. “…I haven’t worn them in at least a century.”

Test subjects didn’t need them, after all.

She simply stood in the facility with a lost expression as she thought back to what had happened. How the chosen seeder had somehow bullied the leader of the Blood Cult into accepting his deal.

He was fearless despite being a Master himself in front of a peak Sage.

He succeeded in freeing her with words alone.

Although, it was hardly perfect and she needed to surrender her eggs, it was still nothing short of a miracle and a blessing to the Blood Goddess. “Who is he…?” A faint murmur escaped the Blood Goddess as she stirred. “That man you are with.”

Amare blinked for a moment. “You really don’t know who he is?”

The Blood Goddess nodded. “I haven’t had much exposure to the outside world. They keep me here. Or in training chambers where I train or spar. Or in the copulation chamber.”

Amare’s expression grew even more pained. “Well… his name is Prince Rui Quarrier Silas Kandria of the Kandrian Empire. He’s also known as the Dawnbringer in this Era of Darkness. He’s one of the most important beings in this era.”

The Blood Goddess frowned. “…Era of Darkness?”

Amare did a double-take. “You don’t even know about that? Oh dear, where to start?”

She patiently explained the Beast Incursion and the Era of Darkness to the Blood Goddess, whose eyes widened with shock.

“The Age of Martial Art is over?” her voice was reduced to a stunned whisper. “Impossible!”

“You will see when you get out,” Amare shook her head. “The world has changed forever. The Human Domain has been overrun by monsters and beasts and is entirely unfit for normal human life. The only way out of this problem is to have the Sages go to the Beast Domain and that’s where Rui comes in. You see…”

She proudly began explaining how indispensable Rui was to human civilization. She talked about how the Dawnbringer, along with the Esoterist, served as the two pillars of hope and salvation in the Era of Darkness, spreading his power across human civilization.

“Hellbringer… breakthroughs…” the Blood Goddess’s eyes widened with shock. “…Incredible.”

She realized that the Blood Lord had probably lied or let his biases affect his judgment when he stated that she was more important than him. It was clear that the Dawnbringer was able to have a much more direct, quicker, and more useful impact on the world in this apocalyptic era.

A prince of the Kandrian Empire.

The youngest Senior and Master in history.

The true Antithesis as recognized by the Transcendent Prophet himself.

The Blood Goddess couldn’t believe the sheer tales that Amare narrated to her about him. “He fought two Martial Sages and gained the upper hand?” her expression grew aghast. “That’s impossible…!”

“For ordinary Martial Masters, it is, but not for Rui!” she proudly stated with a delightful smile as she extolled tales of Rui to the Blood Goddess. The Blood Goddess simply listened to her speak on and on about him.

There was no limit to what Amare could say about Rui.

“…Are you two in a romantic relationship?” the Blood Goddess asked blankly.

“Ehhhh. W-We’re just friends. We don’t have anything like that going on!” Her cheeks flushed red as her expression grew embarrassed.

“…I see.”

The Blood Goddess didn’t believe her.

She closed her eyes. “If you were, I would have to apologize to you as well, for attempting to take his seed by force. But I especially have to properly apologize to him when I see him next.”

“I think he might forgive you if you are sincere.” Amare smiled encouragingly.

“…I have to thank you as well,” the Blood Goddess gazed into Amare’s eyes with her blood-red eyes. “Thank you. Thank you for taking the initiative to save me. I would have remained here for the rest of my life birthing heirs forever without your decision to save me. I don’t think he would have taken the decision to save. And I don’t blame him, considering what I was going to do to him.”

“…I simply sensed your pain and wanted to give you a second chance,” Amare heaved a sigh. “You… have done many terrible things.”

She gazed at the dead researchers of scholars with a pained expression. “But I believe that you are capable of being better. I believe that you are simply cursed by your circumstances. I hope you will be able to pursue a better life outside once you are free from the shackles of your curse.”

The Blood Goddess simply remained silent as she fell into thought.

She didn’t have even the faintest idea what kind of life she wanted to lead once she was freed from captivity. An enormous world of endless possibilities awaited her to explore it as long as she had the courage to.

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